Sorbitol is a sweet-tasting alcohol derived from glucose. It is sometimes labeled as glucitol and is naturally present in various plants and seaweed.
Aside from its pleasant, sweet taste (for which it is used as a very common sweetener), Sorbitol is also very good at binding and retaining water. It is therefore used in skincare products as a humectant moisturizing ingredient.
Science
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Zhang, W., Chen, J., Chen, Q., Wu, H., & Mu, W. (2020). Sugar alcohols derived from lactose: lactitol, galactitol, and sorbitol. Applied microbiology and biotechnology, 104(22), 9487–9495.